FOCUS ON: Paige Northwood 'on red', 2021

Red like the iron rich desert earth beneath your feet. Red like the blood passing through the valves of your heart. Red like the light you see behind closed eyes; how vibrant our insides are. Traversing numerous cultural boundaries, red is a colour that signifies the intensity of both life and death. Australian artist Paige Northwood considers this notion through her latest body of work 'Meditations On Red'.

Using the colour itself through bold, evocative applications throughout the series of new paintings, 'on red', 2021 is the essence of the exhibition distilled. Clay hand-like forms adorn wooden board, coloured a fervent hue courtesy of found pigment derived from the earth. Exploring the pain of transformation, the invigoration and intensity of red as a colour, as well as the evocative and innate qualities of this colour, this artwork serves as a reminder of our own pain and mortality.

After living on country in the Central Australian desert for three years, Northwood came to resonate with its robust palette. First taking to using found materials out of necessity due to limited access to arts supplies, collecting and making natural pigments from her immediate surroundings also became a way for the artist to assimilate and understand her new environment. Coming from a place of deep respect and curiosity, Northwood's paintings depict her shared experiences from the past year, whether that be through spoken stories, spiritual encounters, or as a guest at ceremonial fires. Looking at the colour red as a symbol of transformation and vitality, the paintings are also a reactive response to visceral themes of death and decay.